Ratings & Tasting Notes:

98 Points, Wine Advocate
“Heitz’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard is one of the best vintages I can remember tasting. Loaded with blackcurrants, it also carries hints of camphor and mocha on the nose, while the medium- to full-bodied palate is rich and concentrated, and the vibrant, long-lasting finish is framed by oodles of soft tannins. Readers may want to note that beginning in 2025, grapes from this historic 30-acre site may be sold to other producers, although Heitz is expected to continue to make this bottling from “their” portions of the vineyard.”

97 Points, Vinous
“The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard is such a classic wine. The bouquet alone is a dead giveaway. Soaring floral and savory top notes make a strong opening statement. Medium in body and pliant, with terrific persistence, the 2019 is dripping with the essence of site. This is an archetype of Napa Valley classicism with modern purity of red fruit.”
– Antonio Galloni, December 2024

96 Points, Wine Spectator
“This red brims with dark currant, cherry and loganberry fruit, but you have to work through a lush swath of menthol to get there, all while notes of sweet tobacco and a hint of loam run underneath. Fine-grained, with a lingering twang of iron, this has all it requires for a lengthy cellar run, yet needs to meld a bit more.”
– James Molesworth

Cult Wines International Notes:

The 2019 Heitz Cellar Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon represents a continuation of one of the most storied legacies in American viticulture. Established in 1961 by Joe and Alice Heitz, the winery became a pioneer of the single-vineyard philosophy in Napa Valley when they first bottled fruit from Tom and Martha May’s Oakville vineyard in 1966. This partnership created the first vineyard-designated Cabernet in Napa, setting a standard for terroir-driven winemaking that has endured for over half a century. Today, under the ownership of Gaylon Lawrence and the direction of Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy, the estate remains committed to the traditional, elegant style that made Martha’s Vineyard a global icon. The 2019 vintage is a testament to this enduring vision, showcasing the unique microclimate of the western Oakville bench where the vineyard’s sheltered location and well-drained alluvial soils produce fruit of unparalleled complexity and character.

The 2019 growing season in Napa Valley is widely regarded as a “classic” vintage, characterized by a long, steady progression that allowed for exceptional flavor development. The year began with a wet winter and a cool spring, providing the vines with deep water reserves that proved essential during the warm summer months. Unlike the more turbulent vintages of the late 2010s, 2019 was defined by its lack of extreme heat spikes, allowing the fruit at Martha’s Vineyard to ripen slowly and evenly. This extended “hang time” was critical for the development of the vineyard’s signature aromatic profile—specifically the cooling mint and eucalyptus notes that are derived from the surrounding trees and the site’s unique terroir. Harvesting took place under ideal conditions in late September and early October, yielding grapes with perfect phenolic maturity, vibrant acidity, and a refined tannic structure that ensures this vintage will be a cornerstone of any serious wine collection for decades to come.